It has been 15 years since we had a snow/ice storm strong enough to take down tree limbs. But at 1:30AM, I took a peek and saw a 8-9" limb down. I bundled up and went out to take photos and found three: ~4-5" diameter near wheelchair ramp ~8-9" diameter major limb down, partially on curb, not blocking street ~5-6" diameter limb between house and major, down limb So I started taking photos and heard a crack . . . snow baptism. So I decided it wasn't a good place to be and went back in the house. The police and sheriff have told folks to stay off the roads except for emergencies. I understand the North part of town has lost power. We're OK especially because I have two Prius with 1kW inverters. <grins> Radar shows the precipitation has moved towards Georgia and from there, up the East coast. Hopefully we won't get any high, cold winds to take down more limbs until the warm weather shows up. Right now, they are expecting warm-air about 9:00 AM. So how you' all doin'? Bob Wilson
this has been my view at work for the entire evening. Pushing snow, My vehicle, 2005 John deere 320 Skid loader.
Why I like snow? Power on, DirecTV out (dish full of snow). Comcast cable not working. Other than the internet, we've lost communication with the outside world. Going to work and shovel snow so we can open. It's disruptive, dangerous, costly. messy, and a big inconvenience. My Prius is dirty and hasn't been washed for several months. Could be much worse.
...burried in NoVA...looks like we are in the 15-inch range but 2-ft+ on decks and beside cars the way the wind was blowing. Normally I would shovel as we go, but it came down as we slept after midnite. Even before that, worst potholes I had seen in some decades with the lack of road maintenance and deep freezes we keep having this year. Right now its 32F which is a heat wave, warmest AM temp we've seen all week by far.
i'm weary of winter. heading to florida next week, thre more potential storms forecast before we leave. i suspect our time there won't be much better than here, unfortunately.
I'll take florida over boston in the winter even if it was hurricane season in florida... WJ I work at G-town. I live out in vienna, and I'm not looking forward to what I'm going to see when I get home. Hopefully the snow blower in the garage will start, and I'll have enough dexterity to open a bottle of knob creek.... and i will offer a +1 on the potholes... ugh...
...you may be slightly better, we are a bit more westerly in Fairfax Co. Beltway sounds OK but some ramps are toast.
At 9:30AM, sunny and no wind, we're seeing some melting. Also, a 4th limb on the driveway where I was walking earlier this morning . . . nice 4-5" diameter . . . Bob killer. The dogs love the new 'branch gate' in the fence. I'm still staying inside until at least this afternoon. Time to let the sun do the initial snow removal and it is working. But for now, I don't need to be under stressed out tree branches. Bob Wilson
You southern guys crack me up!! An inch or two of snow and its a state emergency?! You wouldnt last a minute up in Michigan We broke records this year with snow. Yet, I havent missed 1 day of work.
So during a war, the enemy commander spotted a Marine and sent three of his troops to get him. A bunch of shooting but no one returned and the Marine was still there. Angry, he sent a squad, a dozen troops, and another battle started but after half an hour all was quiet and no one returned. Furious, he sent a platoon, three dozen troops, and another terrible battle broke out. After the fighting died down, one troop, badly beaten and wounded returned and said,"Sir, there are two Marines." We'd have been OK with just one or two inches but this time, there were three and our trees had nearly 20 years since a winter storm pruned them. <grins> Bob Wilson
In Northern Virginia, the snow turned to light rain and the on-the-ground snowpack is already very wet and heavy, whereas last night as it came down at 27 degrees it was very light, sparkly and powdery. If things freeze hard tonight, all the wet heavy snow will freeze into a hard carapace and that will create fun for days.
Prius vs. Tree Limb Way up the tree, the good ole boy solution: ladder; chain-saw; fall; hospital or morgue. The Prius solution, a 6,000 lb rated strap between Prius and estimated 600-800 lb tree branch. House included for perspective. Ready, set . . . GO! First the branch fell down about 6 ft into the cradle of the lowest branches. One more pull and it came down all the way and the Prius and driver were not even close. But then there is this big limb and the City takes a dim view of a Prius dragging a tree down the street. Instead of a chain saw, a 10A, reciprocating saw . . . but where to get 10A by the curb? A 1kW, modified sine-wave inverter, the Prius emergency power generator. Perspective. The first pile including the three other, smaller limbs. This is the second pile showing a section of tree branch that measures 7" about 8 ft from the broken base. At this point, my fingers were cold suggesting low blood sugar and I was pretty tired. Working beyond your endurance can lead to poor judgement and it was nearly sunset. Bob Wilson
^^^I didn't see the Prius at first...Oh man Gen1 now I see it Wow that's some big branches coming down. I think here is a more continuous process of losing a little each storm.
Discovered this morning, a second, higher limb broke but was caught by a lower limb: The yellow is the broken part of the first limb. The red is the one still suspended above the ground . . . killin' distance. I'll have to get tree service to come out . . . just too dangerous otherwise. At least now I know what that break was that dumped snow on my head. Bob Wilson
here are a few shot of us "plowing the field" for the girl LAX team. I was driving the 30 year old tractor, on of my managers driving the 97 power stroke ford, and another employee driving the 2012 f550...
